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arXiv:2311.01045 · Journal of High Energy Physics

Pseudo entropy and pseudo-Hermiticity in quantum field theories

Wu-zhong Guo, Yao-zong Jiang

Published May 7, 2024• 8 citations
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Abstract

A bstract In this paper, we explore the concept of pseudo Rényi entropy within the context of quantum field theories (QFTs). The transition matrix is constructed by applying operators situated in different regions to the vacuum state. Specifically, when the operators are positioned in the left and right Rindler wedges respectively, we discover that the logarithmic term of the pseudo Rényi entropy is necessarily real. In other cases, the result might be complex. We provide direct evaluations of specific examples within 2-dimensional conformal field theories (CFTs). Furthermore, we establish a connection between these findings and the pseudo-Hermitian condition. Our analysis reveals that the reality or complexity of the logarithmic term of pseudo Rényi entropy can be explained through this pseudo-Hermitian framework. Additionally, we investigate the divergent term of the pseudo Rényi entropy. Interestingly, we observe a universal divergent term in the second pseudo Rényi entropy within 2-dimensional CFTs. This universal term is solely dependent on the conformal dimension of the operator under consideration. For n -th pseudo Rényi entropy ( n ≥ 3), the divergent term is intricately related to the specific details of the underlying theory.

DOI
10.1007/jhep05(2024)071

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A bstract In this paper, we explore the concept of pseudo Rényi entropy within the context of quantum field theories (QFTs). The transition matrix is constructed by applying operators situated in different regions to the vacuum state. Specifically, when the operators are positioned in the left and right Rindler wedges respectively, we discover that the logarithmic term of the pseudo Rényi entropy is necessarily real. In other cases, the result might be complex. We provide direct evaluations of specific examples within 2-dimensional conformal field theories (CFTs). Furthermore, we establish a connection between these findings and the pseudo-Hermitian condition. Our analysis reveals that the reality or complexity of the logarithmic term of pseudo Rényi entropy can be explained through this pseudo-Hermitian framework. Additionally, we investigate the divergent term of the pseudo Rényi entropy. Interestingly, we observe a universal divergent term in the second pseudo Rényi entropy within 2-dimensional CFTs. This universal term is solely dependent on the conformal dimension of the operator under consideration. For n -th pseudo Rényi entropy ( n ≥ 3), the divergent term is intricately related to the specific details of the underlying theory.
Abstract As a generalization of entanglement entropy, pseudo entropy is not always real. The real-valued pseudo entropy has promising applications in holography and quantum phase transition. We apply the notion of pseudo-Hermiticity to formulate the reality condition of pseudo entropy. We find the general form of the transition matrix for which the eigenvalues of the reduced transition matrix possess real or complex pairs of eigenvalues. Further, we find a class of transition matrices for which the pseudo (Rényi) entropies are non-negative. Some known examples which give real pseudo entropy in quantum field theories can be explained in our framework. Our results offer a novel method to generate the transition matrix with real pseudo entropy. Finally, we show the reality condition for pseudo entropy is related to the Tomita-Takesaki modular theory for quantum field theory.
Abstract In this work, we study the real-time evolution of pseudo-(Rényi) entropy, a generalization of entanglement entropy, in two-dimensional conformal field theories (CFTs). We focus on states obtained by acting primary operators located at different space points or their linear combinations on the vacuum. We show the similarities and differences between the pseudo-(Rényi) entropy and entanglement entropy. For excitation by a single primary operator, we analyze the behaviors of the 2nd pseudo-Rényi entropy in various limits and find some symmetries associated with the subsystem and the positions of the inserted operators. For excitation by linear combinations, the late time limit of the nth pseudo-Rényi entropy shows a simple form related to the coefficients of the combinations and Rényi entropy of the operators, which can be derived by using the Schmidt decomposition. Further, we find two kinds of particular spatial configurations of insertion operators in one of which the pseudo-(Rényi) entropy remains real throughout the time evolution.
Abstract We study the properties of pseudo entropy, a new generalization of entanglement entropy, in free Maxwell field theory in d = 4 dimension. We prepare excited states by the different components of the field strengths located at different Euclidean times acting on the vacuum. We compute the difference between the pseudo Rényi entropy and the Rényi entropy of the ground state and observe that the difference changes significantly near the boundary of the subsystems and vanishes far away from the boundary. Near the boundary of the subsystems, the difference between pseudo Rényi entropy and Rényi entropy of the ground state depends on the ratio of the two Euclidean times where the operators are kept. To begin with, we develop the method to evaluate pseudo entropy of conformal scalar field in d = 4 dimension. We prepare two states by two operators with fixed conformal weight acting on the vacuum and observe that the difference between pseudo Rényi entropy and ground state Rényi entropy changes only near the boundary of the subsystems. We also show that a suitable analytical continuation of pseudo Rényi entropy leads to the evaluation of real-time evolution of Rényi entropy during quenches.
Abstract We introduce a pseudo entropy extension of topological entanglement entropy called topological pseudo entropy. Various examples of the topological pseudo entropies are examined in three-dimensional Chern-Simons gauge theory with Wilson loop insertions. Partition functions with knotted Wilson loops are directly related to topological pseudo (Rényi) entropies. We also show that the pseudo entropy in a certain setup is equivalent to the interface entropy in two-dimensional conformal field theories (CFTs), and leverage the equivalence to calculate the pseudo entropies in particular examples. Furthermore, we define a pseudo entropy extension of the left-right entanglement entropy in two-dimensional boundary CFTs and derive a universal formula for a pair of arbitrary boundary states. As a byproduct, we find that the topological interface entropy for rational CFTs has a contribution identical to the topological entanglement entropy on a torus.
Pseudo entropy extends entanglement entropy from a single quantum state to a pair of nonorthogonal states and is generally complex. Taking advantage of Cauchy-Riemann equations, Kramers-Kronig relations, and analytic continuation in state parameters, we show how and to what extent real and imaginary parts of pseudo entropy can be derived from ordinary entanglement entropy. For families with holomorphic coefficients in finite-dimensional Hilbert spaces, the reduced transition matrix equals the ordinary reduced density matrix formula evaluated at complex parameters. Then a convergent Taylor series gives the real and imaginary parts of pseudo entropy from even and odd derivatives of entanglement entropy at the real midpoint. The matrix identity also gives formulae for excess pseudo entropy and Renyi entropies, and interpolation formulae for families with polynomial coefficients. We apply these results to boundary-state quenches and thermal states in conformal field theory, and to fermionic and bosonic Gaussian states and quenches. In conformal field theory, Kramers-Kronig relations give the first moment of the imaginary part in terms of the central charge and one-point functions for boundary states.
We study the late-time behaviors of pseudo-(Rényi) entropy of locally excited states in rational conformal field theories. To construct the transition matrix, we utilize two nonorthogonal locally excited states that are created by the application of different descendant operators to vacuum. We show that when two descendant operators are generated by a single Virasoro generator acting on the same primary operator, the late-time excess of pseudoentropy and pseudo-Rényi entropy corresponds to the logarithm of the quantum dimension of the associated primary operator, in agreement with the case of entanglement entropy. However, for linear combination operators generated by the generic summation of Virasoro generators, we obtain a distinct late-time excess formula for the pseudo-(Rényi) entropy compared to that for (Rényi) entanglement entropy. As the mixing of holomorphic and antiholomorphic generators enhances the entanglement, in this case, the pseudo-(Rényi) entropy can receive an additional contribution. The additional contribution can be expressed as the pseudo-(Rényi) entropy of an effective transition matrix in a finite-dimensional Hilbert space.